Adapting a coastal vulnerability index - CVI for the peruvian shoreline: A study case

Abstract

This study evaluates erosion vulnerability in the Peruvian coastline under a sea-level rise scenario in a Climate Change context. For this purpose, a Coastal Vulnerability Index - CVI was developed, which integrates physical variables (geomorphology, beach type, beach slope, and shoreline changes) and human-related variables (land use, beach width, and coastal settlement). The CVI was used to analyze the coastline of the Pacasmayo province (La Libertad region, Peru), with data obtained from field surveys and remoting sensing, on a geographic information system (GIS). The study found that 5.8% of the coastline showed a low vulnerability, 82.9% medium vulnerability, and 11.3% high vulnerability. When considering physical variables solely, high vulnerability increases considerably (32%). Whereas, if only human-related variables are taken into account, high vulnerability decreases (7.4%).